SIHH 2012 Stock Photos and Thoughts...

[mfer]

First the pics. The text above each picture describes the watch below. Hopefully I got all these new numbers correct.

PAM 323 - Radiomir - 47mm - 10 Day Automatic Movement - Stainless Steel - Regular Production

PAM 388 - Radiomir - 45mm - 3 Day Automatic Movement - Stainless Steel - Regular Production

PAM 392 - Luminor 1950 - 42mm - 3 Day Automatic Movement - Stainless Steel - Regular Production

PAM 393 - Luminor 1950 - 42mm - 3 Day Automatic Movement - Rose Gold - Regular Production

PAM 395 - Radiomir - 45mm - 8 Day Manual Movement - Rose Gold - Special Edition

PAM 396 - Luminor 1950 - 48mm - 6 Day Tourbillion Movement - Ceramic - Specialty

PAM 398 - Radiomir 1940 - 47mm - 60 Hour Manual Movement (Minerva Inspired) - Rose Gold - Special Edition

PAM 399 - Radiomir 1940 - 47mm - 60 Hour Manual Movement (Minerva Inspired) - Stainless Steel - Special Edition - See 398 movement picture.

PAM 421 - Radiomir - 47mm - 3 Day Manual Movement - Rose Gold - Regular Production

PAM 422 - Luminor 1950 Plexi - 3 Day Manual Movement - Stainless Steel - Regular Production

PAM 423 - Luminor 1950 Plexi - 3 Day Manual Movement - Stainless Steel - Regular Production

PAM 424 - Radiomir - 47mm - 3 Day Manual Movement - Stainless Steel - Regular Production

PAM 425 - Radiomir - 47mm - 3 Day Manual Movement - Stainless Steel - Regular Production

PAM 438 - Luminor 1950 - 44mm - 3 Day Automatic Movement - Ceramic - Regular Production

PAM 439 - Radiomir - 42mm - 60 Hour Manual Movement (999)- Rose Gold - Regular Production

PAM 441 - Luminor 1950 - 44mm - 3 Day Automatic Movement - Ceramic - Regular Production

PAM 448 - Radiomir - 47mm - 3 Day Manual - Stainless Steel - Special Edition

PAM 449 - Radiomir - 47mm - 3 Day Manual - Stainless Steel - Special Edition

[mfer]

My thoughts on SIHH 2012

So, clearly everyone is pretty excited about the 47mm Radiomir SE's, the 448 and 449. Those are SE's supposedly limited to 500 a piece, which means, I won't get one! Oh well. They sure are nice looking and I would love the chance at one.

The 448 and 449 are both pretty unique in the fact that they are SE's that are basically SE's already? I mean yeah the 249 has a different movement, but man are they similar. What about last year’s Platinum 373? I mean the 449 has those beautiful blue hands and cost a fraction of the 373. Not sure if this is a good move by Panerai or not.

For example, if I paid a premium for the 249, I'd be a little upset now, but at the same time, I don't think it is really good that some models are sooooo popular that they go for so much over MSRP on the secondary market. Double edged sword really.

Also, it is interesting to see the new Luminor 1950 cases in 42mm. I hear Panerai is making a large move into Asia. Supposedly Panerai is opening 15 more boutiques this year, with most being in Asia. Or could it be that they are just getting more and more requests for more business appropriate watches? Not sure again.

Now the 399....wow. All I can say is wow, but with that Minerva movement in there, there is no way I could approach it even if given the opportunity. Hopefully there be some more of these cases issued in the future with their "cheaper" movements. If this wears even smaller than the 372, I bet many would be all over it.

One that isn't getting a lot of attention that I REALLY like is the 421. For me, this would be perfect it 45mm. I would see it fitting in very nicely with a suit, but for my skinny wrists at 6.5", it would be a little too much I think at 47mm.

Speaking of gold, I LOVE the skeleton bridges on the 395. It is an opposite approach taken on most Panerai to show off the movement like this. Most of the time, they keep it industrial to tie back to their Angelus past. I REALLY like this upgrade and hope they consider it on more models in the future. Do this to the 421 and make it 45mm please!!!!!

Now, the 424.....a base with a date? To tell you the truth when I first saw it I was like blah! The logo, the date....blah, but the more I see the logo on it, I like it. The date is still throwing me though. Can't say I like it, but who knows. Maybe in real life it looks much better.

That leads us to the 425. Nice dial depending on how much that pig stands out. It is funny how Panerai people are with the pig. On a 292, it increases the value, but on the 425, people are giving it a thumbs down. I wait to reserve judgment once I see it. Very glad this one is a regular production, but don't know how I would feel if I just bought a 373 (platinum version).

Ceramics? Not sure. I drive a car and it doesn't say "aluminum" on the hood. I have the same feeling on watches that say "platinum" on the dial like the PAM 198. Moving on.

About the auto Rad's....I'm sure there is a crowd that likes them. Glad they have the option now to have a sammy dial auto Rad. There wasn't one before, but I like my Rad's thin and manual!

So, what are your guy's thoughts?

[nauticajoe]

All I can say is.....WOW! Thanks for sharing Mik!

[eric23]

Great Photos and review Mik.

I would like a 424, I put my name on the waiting list at the AD, I think I am number 1.

[ocwatching]

mods, please sticky this for SIHH 2012!

I will return when I have time to put my thoughts on the screen!

but quickly..the 449/448 has my juices flowing but not if I had the 249/373...

[psv]

My money is on the 448.

[bcacncnc]

Thanks Mik for this...

But to be quite honest, I am loosing my interest in Panerai now for two reasons. 1) I see the prices getting higher and higher to a point whereby I simply cannot justify the expense; and 2) I've built up some sentiment with the look/feel of the PAMs I hv been looking at over last couple of years, and those models tend to define what I feel as being PAMs with real DNA.. whereas many (not all) of the new models just don't look or feel like PAMs anymore...its strange, its almost like they are a different brand altogether and the new models just look gimmicky. Hard for me to describe this feeling but I'm finding my self more and more attracted to the base and historic line and moving myself further and further away from the most (not all) of the newer models. Maybe with time I'll come to embrace them?

[red1108nyc]

STRONGLY digging the 449... I mean.. the simplicity.. the blue hands... and the bonus 3 day movement... heck, I will give my first 47mm a try!

Great post buddy,

Fred

[B. Doggy]

Excellent thoughts. Give me the 399 without faux patina. The 425 without the faux and PIG. I'd be all over either one of those. Panerai is obviously all over the vintage front right now.

[skyedog]

388 for me! love the Cali Dial but 47mm is just tooooooo big for my 6" wrist!

[snowpea]

Love the 388 and 398, but diffidently the 388 Rad for me..now must start to save.

[Rollie2011]

399 :)

[oneillba]

Thanks for the pictures and primer on PAMs.

[JF23]

Thanks Mik.

[GlobalGooch69]

thanks for the post, the RG and PVD pams are all rediculously nice, i cant wait for them to come out 393 and 395 (more so 395) are definatly on my list, i cant wait!

[leeye]

422 and 428 for me!

[broncophil]

392 for me.. looks like a mini 312..

i had the 312 for 6 months.. too big.. i will be getting the 392

[Fearsome Puppy]

Thanks for sharing the pics and a great analysis - I share very similar views on the 2012 models. Crossing my fingers (and everything else) for a 448 or 449...

[vmm]

Wow love the 422. May be calling AD tomorrow!!!!


Edit: I'm finding on other websites the 422 is being list as a SE limited to 200 pieces and is a 47 mm case. If so, it's probably already sold out. Damn!

[Cru Jones]

very nice post!!

to be honest, i was wondering why you hadn't chimed in yet, mik....

totally agree on the 421 being a nice piece and hope for a 45mm some day.

totally agree on the 448 being AWESOME and, at 500 examples, just a dream. BUT, i'm not a fan of "vintage" on the case....i mean, anyone that wants one KNOWS this, so, why carve up the case with that word? just bizarre.

totally agree that i need to see the 424....the idea of a date shocks me on a california dial, but, at the same point, why not? i'm not a DNA snob, so, maybe it'll work.

totally agree on the "ceramic" on the dial.....a real bush league move, IMHO.

i'd also add that while there's a LOT to like about the 398 & 399, i too wish for a 45 equivalent, and, also, i'm just not fan of the writing on the dial. too big and "casual" looking, IMHO, but, i'll need to see it. i much prefer (based on the photos) the font and font size of the text on the 421 & 439 for a RAD.

speaking of 439, me like! still haven't seen a 42 in real life, though, so, i'm not sure of the size. but, as a dress piece to compliment larger luminors in a collection, this could be really, really nice.

lastly, a minor correction on your post......the 422 & 423 are sapphire, not plexi.

[MP5]

Panerai has jumped the shark 20 too many times. If it wasn't for a few models released in super limited production that I can never get and the long standing historic line ,I would be totally done. I mean "vintage" inscribed on cases, model names on rehaults, material used on dials. "faketina" it's all too low rent. I know of quite a few die hards that are nearly done except with vintage and the early series. Not all Panerai is created equal and hasn't been for some time

[Composite]

Thanks, 449 for me!!!

[ancs88]

449 for me too!!!

[texex91]

Great shots! Loving the 424, P3000, Cali dial, date (that is a big one for me) and logo--how can you go wrong. Now the year long wait as they probably won't be seen until late 2012.

[mfer]

If anyone finds any typos, please let me know. Cru found two good ones. I want to get all the edits together so I can ask a Mod to fix it for me.

vmm indicated the 422 was a SE, but I'm not seeing that per the Panerai website. This is under the "historic" collection which means regular production. Can anyone confirm?

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by mfer

vmm indicated the 422 was a SE, but I'm not seeing that per the Panerai website. This is under the "historic" collection which means regular production. Can anyone confirm?

per panerai's updated Web site (click here), looks like regular production.

FWIW, the Web site was updated with the 2012 models, but still shows the 210....maybe they left it there to help clear out the remaining stock?

[karmatp]

Thanks for posting this Mik, it is a nice reference point. I keep hearing the new model numbers than I have to go look for a post with a pic, your post is perfect.

[psv]

Originally Posted by MP5

Panerai has jumped the shark 20 too many times. If it wasn't for a few models released in super limited production that I can never get and the long standing historic line ,I would be totally done. I mean "vintage" inscribed on cases, model names on rehaults, material used on dials. "faketina" it's all too low rent. I know of quite a few die hards that are nearly done except with vintage and the early series. Not all Panerai is created equal and hasn't been for some time

I largely agree with this statement. They're burning their candle at both ends at this point.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

FWIW, the Web site was updated with the 2012 models, but still shows the 210....maybe they left it there to help clear out the remaining stock?

Yeah, I remember the 190 being on Panerai's website for the longest time. If you look in the downloadable catelog, the 210 isn't in there, along with many other models like the 243, 287, etc.

Here is what is in the 2012 catalog you can download..

PAM00000 Luminor
PAM00005 Luminor
PAM00114 Luminor
PAM00112 Luminor
PAM00176 Luminor
PAM00113 Luminor
PAM00111 Luminor
PAM00177 Luminor
PAM00219 Luminor
PAM00380 Radiomir
PAM00183 Radiomir
PAM00292 Radiomir
PAM00337 Radiomir
PAM00338 Radiomir
PAM00378 Radiomir
PAM00439 Radiomir
PAM00424 Radiomir
PAM00425 Radiomir
PAM00421 Radiomir
PAM00372 Luminor
PAM00422 Luminor
PAM00423 Luminor
PAM00346 Radiomir
PAM00384 Radiomir
PAM00233 Luminor
PAM00289 Luminor
PAM00104 Luminor
PAM00164 Luminor
PAM00299 Luminor
PAM00048 Luminor
PAM00049 Luminor
PAM00298 Luminor
PAM00024 Luminor
PAM00025 Luminor
PAM00088 Luminor
PAM00297 Luminor
PAM00244 Luminor
PAM00090 Luminor
PAM00241 Luminor
PAM00356 Luminor
PAM00388 Radiomir
PAM00312 Luminor
PAM00328 Luminor
PAM00359 Luminor
PAM00351 Luminor
PAM00352 Luminor
PAM00386 Luminor
PAM00392 Luminor
PAM00393 Luminor
PAM00305 Luminor
PAM00320 Luminor
PAM00329 Luminor
PAM00441 Luminor
PAM00438 Luminor
PAM00321 Luminor
PAM00347 Luminor
PAM00323 Radiomir
PAM00270 Luminor
PAM00335 Luminor
PAM00275 Luminor
PAM00311 Luminor
PAM00317 Luminor
PAM00315 Radiomir
PAM00306 Luminor
PAM00396 Luminor

[mfer]

BTW, I hear the shark comments loud and clear. I tried to let the new models digest with me before posting. There is almost always negativety to new things right when announced. Like I couldn't stand the logo on the cali dial, but now, it looks ok to me.

What brought images of 'the Fonz' on skis for me was the reissue of the 373 in SS and the 249 with 3 day in-house.

Panerai seems to be a brand that listens to the crowd, so speak up, but be constructive IMHO.

I'd speak up on saying, don't forget what got you here. The 44mm Luminor (non-1950).